Santa Cruz
🌺 Santa Cruz Marriage Prep 101 Retreat – A Restorative 2-Day Experience
This two-day weekend retreat brings the full Marriage Prep 101 curriculum to life in a relaxed, mountain-coastal setting.
Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the retreat venue features serene surroundings, redwood views, and a heated outdoor pool—yet it’s just a short drive to the beaches, boardwalk, wineries, and coastal cafés.
It’s the perfect blend of learning, relaxation, and connection.
✨ Upcoming Santa Cruz Retreat
📅 Dates: Saturday & Sunday, May 16–17, 2026
🕙 Time: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday | 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Sunday (with lunch breaks midday)
📍 Location: Inn at Pasatiempo, Santa Cruz, CA
💰 Tuition: $897 per couple
Includes:
- Admission for two (both days)
- Breakfast and refreshments each day
- Comprehensive Marriage Prep 101 workbooks for each partner
- Live teaching & coaching with Michelle Joy, MFT
- Instigator of Love Dialogue Card Deck
- Enneagram Relationship Profile Report
- RELATE Relationship Inventory & Personal Review
- Marriage Bond™ Vow-Writing & Shared Values Ritual
- Hand-crafted Message-in-a-Bottle gift with surprise giveaway prizes
- Certificate of Completion
- 15 % hotel discount for attending couples
🌴 Travel, Stay & Nearby Highlights
Relax between sessions in the heated outdoor pool or enjoy a quiet moment among the redwoods.
The Inn at Pasatiempo offers everything you need for a restorative weekend—peaceful mountain views, spacious rooms, and easy access to the coast.
Couples receive an exclusive 15 % lodging discount with registration.
If you’d like to extend your stay, you’ll find plenty to explore nearby:
- ⛳ Pasatiempo Golf Course — right next door, designed by golf legend Alister MacKenzie
- 🍷 Bottle Jack Winery — just over a mile away, tastings and sweeping mountain views
- 🌊 Santa Cruz Beach & Boardwalk — a short drive from the inn
- 🌲 Redwood Trails — nearby hikes for peaceful reflection or a scenic morning walk
- 🐋 Whale Watching & 🌳 Redwood Zip-Lining — available through the hotel’s local partners as optional add-on adventures
Whether you stay for a night or the whole weekend, the area offers the perfect balance of learning, leisure, and natural beauty.
🌟 Why Couples Love Marriage Prep 101
This isn’t a lecture you sit through—it’s an interactive relationship experience.
You’ll alternate between engaging teaching segments, private couple dialogues, and guided reflections that bring insight to life.
Expect to laugh, reflect, and reconnect—leaving with practical tools and a renewed sense of us.
The Santa Cruz Retreat feels equal parts relationship workshop and weekend escape.
Couples enjoy unhurried time to absorb new tools, reflect between sessions, and reconnect in a setting that inspires calm and intimacy.
You’ll leave feeling more understood, more hopeful, and deeply aligned about the future you’re creating together.
💫 What You’ll Learn
The same research-based Marriage Prep 101 curriculum presented in San Francisco—enhanced with extra time and exclusive bonuses for deeper integration.
You and your partner will:
- Communicate effectively and manage differences with empathy.
- Identify core strengths and growth areas using the RELATE Inventory and Enneagram Profile.
- Clarify shared values and long-term goals.
- Learn repair strategies for staying connected through conflict.
- Craft your personal Marriage Bond™ vows for your future together.
🌿 What to Expect
- Two immersive days of teaching, partner exercises, and guided reflection
- Private couple dialogues (no public sharing required)
- Light breakfast and refreshments provided each day; lunch on your own at nearby cafés or restaurants
- Optional local add-ons through the Inn at Pasatiempo—whale watching, zip-lining in the redwoods, or wine tasting on the coast
- A setting that feels like a mini honeymoon with purpose
Every detail is crafted to encourage meaningful conversation and connection.
💫 Frequently Asked Questions
Will we need to share in front of the group?
No. This is an educational workshop, not group therapy. All conversations and exercises are private between you and your partner.
Will we interact with other couples?
Only if you wish. Most of the experience is between you and your partner, though the group energy adds inspiration.
Can Michelle help us individually during the workshop?
Yes. Michelle is available for questions and light coaching throughout the day.
What if we’re struggling with a specific issue?
The workshop will help you talk through challenges, but if you’d like deeper guidance, consider the Private 1:2 Workshop → for custom pacing and support, or Couples Counseling → for more ongoing work.
💌 After You Register
You’ll receive a confirmation email right away, followed by a welcome orientation with directions, schedule, and tips for making the most of your retreat experience.
🌺 Make It a Weekend to Remember
Step away from the rush of everyday life and devote two meaningful days to your relationship.
Whether you’re seriously dating, engaged, or newly married, the Santa Cruz Marriage Prep 101 Retreat offers a beautiful blend of learning, connection, and relaxation that you’ll carry into married life—and beyond.